At just ten, Natalie Flaherty began weaving tiny bracelets, each emblazoned with the message 'I Stand With Anne, Put a Stop to Hate,' after devouring Anne Frank's diary. The first batch found its way into hands on a Halloween night when she, disguised as the diary's author, roamed the streets of Fairmont, Minnesota, handing out the charms door‑to‑door.
The grassroots movement exploded, with the bracelets now housed in every state and in more than 50 countries. Flaherty’s outreach also secured a sapling of the Anne Frank chestnut tree for her hometown; the tree now stands beside Fairmont High, one of only twenty such memorials across the U.S., including the Capitol and the 9/11 Memorial.
Her efforts caught the eye of the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, a program that screens 2,000 submissions each year to honor 25 Canadian and U.S. children. Judges praised her leadership and tangible impact, and on September 15 she was announced as a winner, earning a $10,000 award and a plaque that will help fund her next steps.
Flaherty plans to channel the prize money into expanded bracelet distribution, educational reform projects, and a post‑secondary education plan. She also intends to launch a new 'Wicked' themed campaign for Halloween, encouraging students to choose kindness and knowledge over hate.
Her mother, Becky Flohrs, who has watched her daughter grow from a curious 10‑year‑old to a national symbol of remembrance, said the award validates the family's belief that 'a single voice can echo worldwide.' The $10,000 will be used to sustain her campaign and to advocate for anti‑hate curricula in Minnesota schools.